More Images

Short of nurses, Rape Crisis Center sends some victims to Sanford for exams

Published: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 7:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH — Some rape victims in Volusia and Flagler counties must be driven to Sanford for examinations after a contract ended that provided nurses to the Rape Crisis Center here.

Reggie Williams, executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center — which oversees the Rape Crisis Center — said the agency ended its contract March 30 to provide sexual assault nurses because it could no longer afford the $24,000 paid to a private company.

Instead, the agency went back to contracting with individual nurses to provide exams and collect evidence for use in prosecutions. But when the nurses are not available, rape victims must be taken to Seminole County.

So far, five rape victims have been taken to Seminole County since the contract ended, Williams said.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said his officers have had to drive some victims to Seminole and then drive them back home. The ride from Daytona Beach to Sanford is about 45 minutes one way and almost 40 miles. The ride from Palm Coast, for example, is roughly an hour one way and about 65 miles.

Williams said he hopes the situation will be remedied soon.

This week at least 20 nurses from around Florida are attending a training session at the Rape Crisis Center aimed at teaching them to examine victims of sexual assault, Williams said.

The Rape Crisis Center hopes to recruit enough nurses to be on call to examine rape victims from both Volusia and Flagler counties at the center's Daytona Beach office.

Last month, the Children's Advocacy Center ended its yearlong contract with Medical Education Legal Consulting Services, which provided sexual assault nurses to the Rape Crisis Center, and went back to contracting with individual nurses, as it did before contracting with the private company.

"When a nurse is not available to do a forensic (sexual assault) examination, the victim has to go to Seminole County," Williams said.

Williams said having a contingent of eight to 10 nurses, who could be available when needed, would be sufficient. In fiscal year 2011-2012, 398 rape victims went to the Rape Crisis Center at 1011 W. International Speedway Blvd. Of those, 226 had forensic exams, Williams said.

Before the Children's Advocacy Center contracted with the private company last year, it worked with individual nurses who were paid per exam, Williams said. The nurses were also paid by the hour to be on call.

The money to pay for the individual nurses came from the Florida Attorney General's office, Williams said, and that's where funding will come from again. The nurses will be paid $300 per forensic examination and $2 for every hour they're on call.

"Forensic examinations are not a core service of the Rape Crisis Center," Williams said. "They are an enhanced service (for victims)."

He said funding for the Rape Crisis Center's core services — such as education, advocacy and referral services for rape victims — comes from the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence. The latter does not pay for forensic examinations.

Williams said he hopes to have the team of nurses in place within the next 60 days.

But the Rape Crisis Center needs more than just nurses, Williams said.

The center is also looking for volunteers who would be part of the Adult Advocacy Core Group, Williams said.

"These are individuals who would go out and talk to a rape victim," Williams said. "They would also be willing to accompany them to court, help them with counseling referral services and help them understand what their rights are."

Williams said the Rape Crisis Center will hold a 30-hour training session in the latter part of May at the Daytona Beach office. Volunteers must be willing to be on call if a rape occurs. Anyone who is interested should call victim advocate coordinator Jo Toubman, 386-238-3830.

<p>DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; Some rape victims in Volusia and Flagler counties must be driven to Sanford for examinations after a contract ended that provided nurses to the Rape Crisis Center here. </p><p>Reggie Williams, executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center &mdash; which oversees the Rape Crisis Center &mdash; said the agency ended its contract March 30 to provide sexual assault nurses because it could no longer afford the $24,000 paid to a private company. </p><p>Instead, the agency went back to contracting with individual nurses to provide exams and collect evidence for use in prosecutions. But when the nurses are not available, rape victims must be taken to Seminole County. </p><p>So far, five rape victims have been taken to Seminole County since the contract ended, Williams said. </p><p>Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said his officers have had to drive some victims to Seminole and then drive them back home. The ride from Daytona Beach to Sanford is about 45 minutes one way and almost 40 miles. The ride from Palm Coast, for example, is roughly an hour one way and about 65 miles. </p><p>Williams said he hopes the situation will be remedied soon. </p><p>This week at least 20 nurses from around Florida are attending a training session at the Rape Crisis Center aimed at teaching them to examine victims of sexual assault, Williams said. </p><p>The Rape Crisis Center hopes to recruit enough nurses to be on call to examine rape victims from both Volusia and Flagler counties at the center's Daytona Beach office. </p><p>Last month, the Children's Advocacy Center ended its yearlong contract with Medical Education Legal Consulting Services, which provided sexual assault nurses to the Rape Crisis Center, and went back to contracting with individual nurses, as it did before contracting with the private company. </p><p>"When a nurse is not available to do a forensic (sexual assault) examination, the victim has to go to Seminole County," Williams said. </p><p>Williams said having a contingent of eight to 10 nurses, who could be available when needed, would be sufficient. In fiscal year 2011-2012, 398 rape victims went to the Rape Crisis Center at 1011 W. International Speedway Blvd. Of those, 226 had forensic exams, Williams said. </p><p>Before the Children's Advocacy Center contracted with the private company last year, it worked with individual nurses who were paid per exam, Williams said. The nurses were also paid by the hour to be on call. </p><p>The money to pay for the individual nurses came from the Florida Attorney General's office, Williams said, and that's where funding will come from again. The nurses will be paid $300 per forensic examination and $2 for every hour they're on call. </p><p>"Forensic examinations are not a core service of the Rape Crisis Center," Williams said. "They are an enhanced service (for victims)." </p><p>He said funding for the Rape Crisis Center's core services &mdash; such as education, advocacy and referral services for rape victims &mdash; comes from the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence. The latter does not pay for forensic examinations. </p><p>Williams said he hopes to have the team of nurses in place within the next 60 days. </p><p>But the Rape Crisis Center needs more than just nurses, Williams said. </p><p>The center is also looking for volunteers who would be part of the Adult Advocacy Core Group, Williams said. </p><p>"These are individuals who would go out and talk to a rape victim," Williams said. "They would also be willing to accompany them to court, help them with counseling referral services and help them understand what their rights are." </p><p>Williams said the Rape Crisis Center will hold a 30-hour training session in the latter part of May at the Daytona Beach office. Volunteers must be willing to be on call if a rape occurs. Anyone who is interested should call victim advocate coordinator Jo Toubman, 386-238-3830.</p>